Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-06
GATHERING GOLD,
A Visit to the Famous Holland
Mine-The Work Being Done.
From the TalIapoosa (Ga.) Journal.

From the TdtLdpoosG (Gd.) Journal.
We accepted a seat with DIR. j. l.. Nc.
Daniel last Friday, and paid visit to the
Holland gold mine, located some three
miles from TallapO0sa, where Gen. Cross
is putting in extensive machinery, and
evidently intends TO see what tn ere is in
1t before he stops.
This mine has been worked on a small
ecale for q number OF years; but the work
here tofOre has only been OF superficial
character-really only surface mining
as the former workers have only gone
down until hindered by the water, which
they had no means OF removing. Now
| immense hydraulic pumps have been in
| any desired depth.
A ter-stamp mill mas been put up and
| is running by splendid water power
near at hand-Or, at least, five of the
stamps are in use, and the others soon
| will be. A shaft to go down so feet is
now being opened up, going through 40
foot vein of paying ore. While really,
but unooverlng the best OF the vein, the
precious metal is being gotten out of the
surface dirt at the rate Of 500 per week,
at very small expense.
The late improvements in mining
apparatus enables Gen. Cross to save the
very finest dust gold-thus working the
ore for all it Is worth.
Mr.. Smith, the superintendent, kin dly
showed us the modps Operandi of pan.
ming out" without going through the mill
at all. Taking a small iron pan, be Iilled
it with dirt from the mine, then washed
it through different waters until othing
but a small quantity of fine sand was left.
This WAS SO manipulated that we soon
saw collected together a fine show OF
rIittarinU Unld It Ia no f,tI
to behold, and was enough to satisfy the
most skeptical that this Is indeed a rich
vein.
We must say, we were really surprised
at what we saw. With increased facili-
ties we would not now be surprised to
see this turn to be one OF the best paying
gold mines in Georgia. Mr.. Smith, an
experienced miner, who has worked for
years in different mines, says he never
saw any better, and thinks, from present
indications, they are now only touching
the outskirts OF a lead that Will astonish
the natives.
Ii was interesting to look at the odd
implements used in the olden times.
ssThe rocker" well-preserved specimen
of which remains, Is somewhat like an
Indian dug-out canoe, with hoops inlaid
on the bottom to catch the gold as the
water carried away the rock dust and
dirt. The ore was pounded in mortars,
then poured through sieve into a box
shaped receptacle at one end. A stream
of water came in upon 1t, and with
strong stick, In a hole at the lower end,
the process OF 'rocking" was effected.
But by these rude means only u small
proportion of the fine gold was secured.
There are men now living in the neigh.
borhood who have made 81 a day with
nothing but pan.
Ii is rumored tnat Col. Debardeul ben,
the 'iron king" and associates who
have been spending a few days here, are
negotiating for extensive mineral inter-
ests, having found the finest ore in the
South at this place.
MIR. McManns, representing a South
Carolina syndicate, has been looking after
Investments here this week and will re-
turn in a few days.
Experienced miners visiting Tallapoo.
ga this week say we have certainly the
finest silver mines In the country and re-
markably rich gold deposits.
Mr.. Crandall, the manager OF the Michi-
gan syndicate, who recently made large
purchases OF tint ered lands here, arrived
yesterday, and will proceed with the To-
cation OF the company's plant. He says
there IL a regular Tallapoosa boom up in
Michigan, and numbers or them will
doubtless come.
$. r. Crew, one Of the prospectors, says
he has found here some OF the finest de-
poeits OF specular ore In America. This
10 used In making fine steel.
MIR. Merrill, OF Alabama. is here trying
10 secure some OF our fine iron ores for an
Alabama syndicate.